New Zealand captain Kane Williamson and Tim Southee are all set to miss a six-match series against India as New Zealand juggle their players to cope with the situation. Coach Gary Stead will also miss out on the series, with his assistant Luke Ronchi to coach the squad for the three ODIs followed by three Twenty20 internationals as well.
While the T20I squad is yet to be named, captain Kane Williamson, Tim Southee and Stead won’t be included. Meanwhile, Black Caps selector Gavin Larsen confirmed on Monday that all three will return home after next month’s tour of Pakistan to start preparations for the home Test series against England, which will begin in mid-February.
“It’s a conveyor belt of cricket at international level,” Larsen told journalists. “We’ve got two very important Test matches against England, so bringing Kane and Tim back and letting them recharge their batteries mentally and physically is really, really crucial.”
However, Kane Williamson, last week quit the Test captaincy to veteran seamer Southee but he will remain the captain in the shortened formats as well. Meanwhile, a 17-player squad will play two ODI series – in Pakistan from January 10-14 and India from January 18-24 as well.
Kane Williamson will return in the series against Pakistan
Meanwhile, Mark Chapman and Jacob Duffy will replace Kane Williamson and Southee in India, with Tom Latham leading the team as well. Pace bowler Trent Boult and allrounder Jimmy Neesham will also miss after declining NZC contracts and signing to play in Australia’s Big Bash T20 league as well, while pace bowler Kyle Jamieson remains unavailable with a back injury as well.
On the other hand, allrounder Henry Shipley is all set to make his international debut as well. Larsen said both series will be important for the world’s top-ranked ODI side before the Cricket World Cup in India next October-November as well.
New Zealand squad for the ODI series in Pakistan and India:
Kane Williamson (capt, Pakistan only), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman (India only), Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy (India only), Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham (capt against India), Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Henry Shipley, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee (Pakistan only)
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